Tuesday, April 30, 2024

^ ^ ‘It would be absolutely bonkers’ – Alan Shearer warns Newcastle over selling Arsenal target Alexander Isak

Newcastle star Alexander Isak looks on
Newcastle star Alexander Isak has been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham (Picture: Getty)

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has urged the club to do everything in their power to keep hold of Alexander Isak this summer, claiming it would be ‘absolutely bonkers’ to let the striker leave and join a rival.

Despite being sidelined with two separate groin injuries, Isak, 24, is Newcastle’s top scorer with 23 goals this term and is widely regarded as one of the finest attackers in the Premier League when fit and firing.

However, speculation has been mounting that Isak could be set for the exit door at St James’ Park, with Arsenal and Tottenham looking to strengthen up front and reportedly plotting £100million moves for the Sweden international.

Eddie Howe has been insistent that Isak is not for sale and it’s understood the Magpies are readying a new contract offer for the forward to ensure his head is not turned.

It remains to be seen where Isak will be when the summer transfer window closes but one thing is for sure – Shearer is desperate to see the ‘magnificent’ Swede pulling on the black and white of Newcastle next season.

‘He’s very good. He’s a very, very good player,’ Shearer – the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer – said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘He’s a modern day forward… do you know the trend now, rather than centre-forward, he’s a forward. He’s a brilliant example of that.

Alexander Isak celebrates
The striker has scored 23 goals in all competitions for Newcastle this term (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s had one or two injuries this season but whilst he’s been on the pitch he hasbeen absolutely magnificent.

‘He’s brilliant at running in behind because he’s quick and once he’s away you’re not catching him.

‘He’s also very clever at coming short and dragging defenders in with them, therefore leaving space in behind. He’s a very clever, intelligent player and he’s got great ability.

‘They’re sat on a great asset and it would be absolutely bonkers if Newcastle, for whatever reason, sold him in the summer.’

Alan Shearer looks on
Shearer is desperate for Newcastle to keep hold of Isak beyond the summer (Picture: Getty)

There have been some rumours that Isak could sold in the summer in order for Newcastle to balance the books and keep in line with the Premier League’s financial regulations.

However, Shearer insists it would be ‘madness’ and a ‘right kick in the knackers’ if his former club were to cash in on their star man.

‘I still think it would be [madness] if they had to sell him,’ he added.

Alexander Isak
The Swede is tied into a deal at St James’ Park until 2028 (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s worth an absolute fortune and it would be bonkers if Newcastle sold him this summer because you know what they’re like, they’re really, really difficult to get goalscorers and he is one of the best.

‘They love him and rightly so. You know what it’s like up here at Newcastle. If you score goals then you’re going to be adored and the fans adore him.

‘It would be a right kick in the knackers if they sold him.’

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak
Burn believes it’s important Newcastle keep hold of Isak (Picture: Getty)

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Newcastle defender Dan Burn claimed Isak had ‘everything’ in his locker while calling on the club to keep hold of the striker.

Asked if he was hoping for Isak to stay put, Burn replied: ‘Yeah, ideally I’d love to keep him!

‘I think Alex has been brilliant. He did score a few goals when he first came and it took him a while to build relationships with team-mates and get used to the way that we want to play and what’s expected of him.

‘But he’s got everything, Alex. He’s got that real quality and he could go on to play for top, top teams.

‘I think it is important that we keep hold of our best players and Alex is definitely one of them.’

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Monday, April 29, 2024

^ ^ Emmanuel Adebayor ‘not a big fan’ of Kai Havertz and says Arsenal could drop more points in title race

Emmanuel Adebayor discussing his former club Arsenal
Emmanuel Adebayor discussing his former club Arsenal (Picture: Premier League)

Emmanuel Adebayor admits he is ‘not a big fan’ of Arsenal star Kai Havertz and warned the Gunners they could drop more points in the title race ahead of their final three games.

Arsenal kept the pressure firmly on defending champions Manchester City with a tense 3-2 win over Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby.

Mikel Arteta’s side led 3-0 at half-time and then withstood a spirited Spurs rally to clinch three crucial points and earn bragging rights in north London.

The victory sent Arsenal four points clear at the top of the Premier League but Man City closed the gap to one just a couple of hours later, beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the City Ground.

With a game in hand, the Premier League trophy is in Man City’s hands but Arsenal can put huge pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side if they win their final three games and finish on 89 points.

Given their superior goal difference, that would effectively force Manchester City to win all four of their remaining fixtures as they chase a record fourth successive title.

But Adebayor, who played over 100 games for Arsenal before enjoying spells with Man City and Tottenham, is unsure the Gunners will maintain their winning run during the run-in.

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‘Anything is possible with Arsenal because we all know how good they can play,’ he said on Premier League Productions after the north London derby. ‘This team is very young and very talented.

‘But am I sure they’re going to get nine points? I’m not sure. Anything can happen. We saw a couple of weeks ago they lost at home to Aston Villa.

‘Whereas if you ask me can Man City win their next 20 games I would say yes because they have proved they can do it. Arsenal are looking better and stronger but I’m not sure they are going to win their last three games.’

Adebayor, who ruined his legacy at Arsenal by running the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of their fans after scoring for Manchester City, also revealed he was ‘not a big fan’ of one of Havertz.

Havertz endured a slow start to his Arsenal career following a £65m move from Chelsea last summer, but the German has been a key member of Arteta’s squad since the turn of the year, scoring a brace against his former club in the 5-0 win last week and a goal against Spurs on Sunday.

Assessing Havertz before the north London derby, Adebayor said: ‘He has adapted well, but I am not a big fan of the player, to be honest. 

‘He isn’t that strong and when you are playing up front for a team like Arsenal. First and foremost, you have to be strong and you have to be clever. He’s a very good player with the feet. 

Kai Havertz celebrating scoring for Arsenal against Tottenham
Kai Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer (Picture: Getty)

‘Football is a game, whenever you score, you are the hero and when you don’t score, then you are the villain. 

‘If he doesn’t score and Arsenal ends up losing, then the fans won’t be happy about it. 

‘But if he manages to score a goal and get a win for his team, as he is doing at the end of the season for his team, then he will be the hero.’ 

The thrilling and tight Premier League title race continues next weekend as Arsenal host Bournemouth and Manchester City face Wolves. Liverpool, five points behind Arsenal in third, take on Spurs.

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^ ^ Manchester United forward Antony hits back at critics after scoring first Premier League goal in 377 days

Antony of Manchester United gestures during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley FC at Old Trafford
Antony scored his first Premier League goal of the season at the weekend (Picture: Getty)

Antony insisted that he hasn’t let criticism affect him and is determined to prove doubters wrong after a disappointing start to his Manchester United career.

The Brazilian arrived as one of Erik ten Hag’s marquee signings last season for an eyebrow-raising £84.8million fee but has failed to live up to the billing at Old Trafford thus far.

His goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley was his first league goal of the season, while the 24-year-old also faced criticism in recent weeks for his celebration after United’s FA Cup semi-final win against Coventry.

Antony, though, said he has remained unfazed by his critics and question marks over his price tag.

‘It doesn’t really impact me because I know my worth,’ he told reporters after Saturday’s result.

‘The money is the money and obviously everyone speaks about it but no one would if the performances of everyone and myself were at the top.

‘So it’s something that is just a way of working harder, knowing I can get better. I know my worth and I will. The critics are going to exist and it’s something that makes me want to work harder, prove to myself first.

Antony celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on April 27, 2024.
Antony has endured a tough season (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m going to keep working, giving everything for the group because it’s most important to have a good mentality and to be focused.’

Despite the Brazilian’s goal, Zeki Amdouni’s late penalty means United have won just one of their last six league matches.

After the match, Ten Hag conceded that his side’s top-four hopes were over, but Antony insisted that the team would remain focused with an FA Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon.

‘It’s been a very tough year for me and the team. The results are not ones we have expected,’ he said.

‘I am someone who takes criticism very well and I want to work on it and I think we all have to focus on finishing the season the best as we can.

‘We still have a few Premier League games and the final, but then we need to focus on the next season and not commit the mistakes we’ve committed this year.’

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Sunday, April 28, 2024

^ ^ Mikel Arteta reacts to David Raya’s mistake in Arsenal’s win over Tottenham

Arsenal star David Raya looks on
David Raya was largely at fault for Cristian Romero’s goal against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has praised Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya for the way he reacted to his embarrassing blunder in the side’s 3-2 win over bitter rivals Tottenham.

The Gunners appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory as Bukayo Saka struck after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s own goal to give the visitors a healthy lead inside half an hour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kai Havertz headed past Vicario to make it three in the 38th minute, as Arsenal once again wreaked havoc from a corner, and some Spurs supporters were pictured leaving before the halfway stage in north London.

But Tottenham picked themselves up off the floor to give Mikel Arteta’s men an almighty scare and Raya was largely at fault for allowing the home team a route back into the match.

With the Premier League leaders cruising, William Saliba passed the ball back to Raya and the Spaniard inexplicably dinked the ball straight to Cristian Romero, who made no mistake from the edge of the box to pull a goal back for the hosts.

It was the first time Raya had conceded away from home in over ten hours and the Arsenal shot-stopper was visibly furious with himself for gifting the opposition a glimmer of hope at a crucial stage in the game.

However, the Gunners managed to hold on after Son Heung-min’s penalty set up an absorbing finish and Arteta applauded his players for the way they were able to withstand the pressure and ‘dig in’ at the death.

Romero capitalised on Raya’s mistake (Picture: Getty)
Romero capitalised on Raya’s mistake (Picture: Getty)

‘It was a really emotional game. Very tough place to come, obviously an incredible atmosphere at the stadium and a great team to play against,’ the Arsenal head coach told reporters at his post-match press conference.

‘At 3-0 up you’re in control of the game. We come into the second half and we were dominating the game and creating chances.

‘And then, yeah, an individual error happens that clicks something, it puts a wrong message in your brain.

Mikel Arteta
The result sent Arsenal four points clear at the top of the table (Picture: Getty)

‘But I think we started to deal with the situation better.

‘Another one and then it’s game on and they have the players and the courage to commit a lot of players forward.

‘We had to dig in, suffer, react and I’m very pleased with the way my team has done it.’

David Raya
Arteta praised Raya’s reaction at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Picture: Getty)

Arteta admitted he ‘didn’t like’ the sequence of play that led to Romero’s goal but argued that Raya deserved great credit for his ‘sensational’ reaction in the final 20 minutes.

Asked for his take on Raya’s error, Arteta replied: ‘It’s part of football.

‘It’s a sequence of play, I don’t like it, I don’t like the principles that we apply in that moment and the orientation of the ball.

‘After that, that can happen, you misjudge the situation, you try to make the pass and you don’t and you are in doubt. They scored to take advantage of that.

Havertz scored to make it three for the Gunners before the halfway stage (Picture: Getty)
Havertz scored to make it three for the Gunners before the halfway stage (Picture: Getty)

‘The penalty is another principle inside the box that you cannot do. It’s part of football.

‘What I love is that David does that [the mistake], he picks Gabriel Magalhaes up – that is quite heavy! – and then he was sensational in the last 20 to 25 minutes of the game.

‘This is what I love about our players.’

In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Arteta insisted Arsenal were ‘lucky’ to have a goalkeeper of Raya’s quality in their ranks.

‘We are lucky to have the ‘keeper that we have because he made an individual error, but afterwards, the way he played was outstanding.

‘The first thing he did was lift Gabriel Magalhaes from the floor so he said, “I own this moment, I’m going to make a step forward”, and he was magnificent.’

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^ ^ What is VAR, how does it work and when is it used in football? All your questions answered

VAR big screen at Stamford Bridge
VAR is now commonplace in football (Picture: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

VAR has been around in football for a number of years now – but it’s many intricacies are still leaving fans with more questions than answers to this very day.

Love it or loath it, VAR is here to stay and the system is in use in every Premier League, Champions League and World Cup game.

If like many you are still baffled by how the technology works – or you just wand a fresh recap – then here is your one stop guide to everything you need to know.

What does VAR stand for?

Video Assistant Referee.

There is one Video Assistant Referee in each game, a current or former referee, and they are supported by an assistant and a replay operator.

They work as a team, covering all angles of the match from the cameras available to them in the stadium.

The VAR team are based in a room in a different location away from the stadium; for example in the Premier League VAR teams are located at Stockley Park in west London.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
VAR is often at the centre of controversy during matches (Picture: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

In what situations can VAR be used?

There are four situations when the VAR team are able to get involved in the game.

  • Goals and offences leading up to a goal – offside/fouls
  • Penalty decisions and offences leading up to a penalty – offside/fouls
  • Direct red card incidents
  • Mistaken identity

So any potential fouls outside of the penalty box will not be reviewed unless they are worthy of a direct red card, or in the build-up to a penalty decision or goal.

Does the referee call for VAR or does the VAR alert the referee?

It can be either. The referee can inform the VAR that a decision should be reviewed or the VAR can recommend to the referee that it should be looked at.

The VAR is only ever an advisory/support role and the referee does not have to even check a decision if it is recommended they do so.

If there is not a ‘clear and obvious error’ in the original decision, it will not be overturned – VAR can not overrule a referee.

West Ham United v Fulham FC - Premier League
VAR is meant to improve the accuracy of decisions (Picture: Paul Harding/Getty Images)

What happens when a decision is being reviewed?

The VAR team review the incident on video footage and communicate their findings to the referee through an earpiece.

The referee will confirm this by either pointing to his ear to delay a restart to the game, or by making the official VAR review signal (making a rectangle with his hands) to show that play has been stopped to review a decision.

The referee can then either review the video of the incident on the side of the field or just accept the VAR information and take the appropriate action from there.

Will we know if a decision is being reviewed?

Checks are always taking place throughout the game.

However, when a decision is being formally reviewed, a graphic appears on the screen to inform TV audiences and messages are displayed on the stadium screens to inform match going fans.

When will the referee check the video footage at the side of the field?

The referee will use the monitor at the side of the pitch for issues of interpretation, outlined by FIFA as the following…

Goals

  • foul committed by attacking player
  • offside interference

Penalty Decisions

  • foul leading up to penalty
  • foul by attacking player

All direct red card incidents

The referee will simply accept the information from the VAR and take the appropriate action in the following situations…

Goals

  • offside position leading up to goal
  • ball out of play leading up to goal

Penalty Decisions

  • foul committed inside or outside the penalty area
  • ball out of play leading up to penalty
  • offside position leading up to penalty

All cases of mistaken identity

Norwich City v Brentford - Premier League
Referees can watch decisions back at pitch side (Picture: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

What happens if an incident occurs whilst a decision is being reviewed?

Decisions are supposed to be reviewed when they happen, but say the referee misses a red card offence, play continues and a goal is scored.

This causes serious controversy, but if the VAR alerts the referee and he/she decided it was a red card, the play is brought back to the foul.

If the fouled player’s team goes on to score, the red card could still be given thanks to VAR but advantage is played and the goal still stands.

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Saturday, April 27, 2024

^ ^ Erik ten Hag defends subbing off Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo after groans from fans

Manchester United stars Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund
The youngsters were taken off with United in need of a goal (Picture: Getty)

Erik ten Hag has defended his decision to substitute Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo in Manchester United’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Burnley on Saturday.

The pair were withdrawn when the game was still goalless in the 65th minute, with Amad Diallo and Scott McTominay coming on in their place, and the move was met with groans from the Old Trafford crowd.

It looked as though Ten Hag’s decision had paid off, though, when Antony fired United ahead in 79th minute, but Zeki Amdouni levelled from the penalty spot not long after.

There were more groans at full-time as United dropped two precious points but Ten Hag has hit back at criticism of his changes and says he was protecting Mainoo and Hojlund after a gruelling few weeks.

Asked about the groans of frustration from supporters that greeted his substitutions, and the full-time whistle, Ten Hag replied: ‘No offence but I have to manage the team.

‘Winning games comes first of all and you see what the game needs, and I think we needed by that time some freshness first of all.

‘But also tactical-wise, bring a player up who can keep the ball, who is creative and then in the midfield you could see it was a very high-intensity game, it went up and down.

Manchester United stars Scott McTominay and Amad Diallo with Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag gives McTominay and Amad some instructions (Picture: Getty)

‘And then you see also some fatigue in Rasmus, who is a very young player, and Kobbie Mainoo, who is a very young player.

‘And, yeah, they were subbed and it was the right decision. You see after it we took some benefit from it, by bringing the fresh legs with Scott in the position.

‘When it’s so open he’s very good in such situations and he can make his penetrations from there. And it also happened that we put ourselves from there in a winning position.

‘And then the last thing is that we have had three games [in seven days] where Burnley had days off. In a high-intensity game, it’s totally logical to bring players off who are very young and who are in their first years of the Premier League.

‘And then we don’t even talk about the injury risk. Rasmus Hojlund had more injuries already in the course of this season, Kobbie Mainoo also, he had two bad injuries.

‘So I don’t want them to get injured, so I protected them as well. So there are more reasons to make the subs.

‘But then I understand that fans want to see [those players]. They see also the skills those players bring and contribute to the team, I understand that. But I have to do my job and that is the right decision.’

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^ ^ Erik ten Hag provides Scott McTominay injury update after Man Utd star limps off against Burnley

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay
McTominay was replaced late on by Mason Mount (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester United and Scotland face a nervous wait to learn the extent of Scott McTominay’s knee injury after the midfielder was forced off in the 1-1 draw with Burnley.

The Scotland international came off the bench after 65 minutes, not deemed fit enough to start the game due to a knock picked up in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City last week.

But shortly after Burnley’s equaliser, the midfielder suffered an injury that left him banging the Old Trafford turf in agony as the club physio tended to his knee.

McTominay was able to limp off the pitch with help from the physio, with Mason Mount brought onto replace him for the final minutes as United dropped more points.

Asked about the midfielder post-match, ten Hag said: ‘Yeah, we have to assess with the doctors, the diagnosis I don’t know at this moment.’

An injury at this stage of the campaign could see McTominay miss the rest of the season with four league games left followed by their FA Cup final showdown against Manchester City on 25 May.

It will also spark concerns for Scotland ahead of Euro 2024 with their campaign getting underway against Germany on 14 June. The United star scored seven times as he played a vital role in helping his country reach this summer’s competition in Germany.

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay
McTominay played a key role in Scotland reaching Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)

Ten Hag explained pre-match McTominay was not 100 per cent and could only play half an hour of football, having also come off the bench for the final 25 minutes against Sheffield United midweek.

He has scored 10 goals for United this season, their third top goal scorer behind Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund.

United have been beset by injury problems for most of the season with Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Willy Kambwala, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial all currently sidelined.

‘To return I think is a little bit too quick turnaround, but players are returning on the pitch. We have to make the transfer to team training,’ ten Hag said on the prospect of some of those players returning in the coming weeks.

‘They need some good moments in the team training because they have had a longer period off so we have to take his process carefully.

‘Because to go in the last two weeks we want to have more bodies and that will give us more options into the game and also during the game.’


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^ ^ New camera angle of Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah bust-up appears to reveal cause of row

New camera angle of Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah bust-up
The Liverpool pair clashed at the London Stadium (Pictures: Shutterstock / beIN SPORTS)

Jurgen Klopp’s touchline bust-up with Mohamed Salah appears to have been caused by the Liverpool winger accidentally snubbing his manager’s handshake, a new camera angle has revealed.

The Egyptian was benched for Saturday’s 2-2 draw away at West Ham, with Klopp preferring a front three of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott.

He was about to be introduced alongside Darwin Nunez and Joe Gomez with around 15 minutes of the match remaining, with Liverpool ahead at the time.

But before the trio could be brought on, Michail Antonio headed West Ham level and footage then emerged showing a heated exchange between Salah and Klopp as they waited for the substitutions to take place.

The 31-year-old appeared to be unhappy with a comment made by his manager, throwing his arms up in the air, and even had to be pushed away by Nunez at one point as he yelled at Klopp.

It was unclear what prompted the argument at the time, but a new camera angle from the stands showing the exchange in full has shed more light on the incident.

After being checked over by the fourth official, Salah headed towards the touchline in preparation for entering the fray but seemed to, rather inadvertently, miss the fact that his manager had offered out his hand for a handshake.

As Salah adjusted his socks, Klopp walked over and fist-bumped him but then seemed to motion about the handshake snub, with Salah seeming to argue back that he had not seen his manager.

The two bickered, which was caught by the original footage, and Klopp then shook hands and gave hearty hugs to both Nunez and Gomez – showing far more warmth than he did with Salah.

As play continued, and West Ham pressed forward, Klopp then said something else to Salah which triggered the 31-year-old and prompted his team-mates to intervene and push him away.

Klopp declined to go into any details over what caused the touchline bust-up afterwards, though felt a line had been drawn under the incident after speaking to Salah in the dressing room.

‘We spoke already in the dressing room and for me it’s done for me. That’s all and that is it,’ explained the German, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

Asked if Salah was okay with the situation, Klopp added: ‘That was my impression, yes.’

However, the Egyptian does not appear to have moved on just yet and made a pointed comment to journalists as he left the London Stadium to board the team bus, refusing to give an interview but saying: ‘There’s going to be fire today if I speak.’

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^ ^ Ruben Amorim responds to Manchester United fans calling for Chido Obi-Martin debut

Chido Obi-Martin has hit the ground running after leaving Arsenal to join Manchester United (Getty) Ruben Amorim has suggested that Chi...